Bridle guard for use in oil well pumping equipment



c. K. BANKS 3,320,820

BRIDLE GUARD FOR USE IN OIL WELL PUMPING EQUIPMENT May 23, 1967 Filed May 17, 1965 INVENTOH. 01 424 .65 K, BAA/K5 I :WrewA/E-r f of the well and below the stuffing box. "such parting of the rods, slack is thrown upwardly into United States Patent 3,320,820 'BRTDLE GUARD FOR USE IN 01L WELL PUMPING EQUIPMENT Charles K. Banks, Glenrocir, Wyo., assignor to Continental Oil Company, Ponca City, Okla, a corporation of Delaware Filed May 17, 1965, Ser. No. 456,299

2 Claims. (Cl. 74--108) This invention relates to a bridle guard incorporated in conventional sucker rod pump assemblies used to remove oil from the earth. More particularly, but not by way of limitation, the present invention relates to a brid'e guard structure which is secured. to the horse head of a sucker rod surface pumping unit so as to prevent the bridle used in the pumping unit from slipping off the quadrant of the horse head in the event of parting or fracturing of the sucker rod string, thereby causing damage to the polished rod, and to the stuffing box through which it passes.

' In sucker rod pumping units of the type conventionally used for removing liquid hydrocarbons from the earth, the pumping unit generally includes a string of sucker rods having as the uppermost rod in the string, a polished rod which passes through a stulfing box located at the upper end of the tubing string and is attached through a flexible cable assembly to the horse head on a walking beam. The walking beam is driven in oscillation by a suitable prime mover and gear reducer unit in accordance with practices well understood in the art. The flexible cable assembly used to connect the polished rod to the horse head includes a pair of generally parallel flexible cable-s which are attached at one of their ends to a carrier bar clamped to the upper end portion of the polished rod. The other ends of the cables are attached to the upper end of the horse head which is secured to one end of the walking beam, and which has an arcuate quadrant surface over which the bridle cables are passed to their point of attachment at the top of the horse head.

In the operation of sucker rod pumps of the type described, an occasional occurrence is the fracturing or parting of the rod string at some point within the tubing As a result of instances.

'As the string of rods then falls downwardly during the downstroke, the polished rod is pulled downwardly in the stufling box, but cannot move freely in a straight vertical line through the stufiing box as is intended in normal, trouble-free operation. Rather, a bending moment is applied by the bridle cables to the polished rod as a result of the misalignment of one or both of the cables, so that the polished rod is jerked and is bent toward the pump unit. The momentum and weight of the falling string continues to exert a large downward force on the bent polished rod with the result that both the polished rod and the stufiing box through which it' normally moves in a straight line are frequently damaged beyond repair, and must be completely replaced 'in order to restore the pumping unit to service.

Since the polished rod is the most expensive rod in the sucker rod string, and since stuffing box constructions are frequently quite elaborate, the cost of replacement of the mechanical strength to the brackets.

3,320,820 Patented May 23, 1967 damaged polished rods and stufi'ing boxes is generally quite high.

The present invention provides a simple bridle guard device which functions to prevent the pair of cables constituting the bridle used in the sucker rod pump assembly from jumping off of, or sliding from, the arcuate quadrant surface of the horse head and thereby becoming misaligned with the top of the polished rod. Broadly described, the bridle guard of the present invention comprises rigid guide means mounted on the horse head and including a first portion secured to the horse head at a point horizontally spaced from the vertical plane occupied by the central, longitudinal axis of the arcuate quadrant surface of the horse head, and a second portion secured to the horse head at a point thereon horizontally spaced from the vertical plane occupied by the longitudinal axis of the arcuate quadrant surface of the horse head, and disposed on the opposite side of said vertical plane from the point of securement of said first portion. The guide means of the bridle guard further includes cable guiding portions extending outwardly from the arcuate quadrant surface of the horse head from said first and second portions for confining and guiding the two cables included in the conventional bridle structure. In the described arrangement, the two cables of the bridle pass between the outwardly extending cable guiding portions of the bridle guard, and are prevented by these guiding portions from moving laterally with respect to the plane of movement of the walking beam so as to slip off of the arcuate quadrant surface of the horse head and into misalignment with the vertical axis of the described, may assume various forms including loop, polished rod.

The bridle guard of the invention, as thus broadly described, may assume various forms including loop, ring or semi-ring structures which are secured at two points identified as the first and second portions in the broad description set forth above, with the two points of securement being on opposite sides of the vertical plane containing the central, longitudinal axis of the arcuate quadrant of the horse head. Alternatively, the bridle guard may take the form of a pair of horizontally spaced guide brackets which cooperate in forming an open channel through which the central longitudinal axis of the arcuate quadrant of the horse head passes, and which confines the two cables of the bridle structure to prevent cable misalignment of the type hereinbefore described in the event of the occurrence of parting of the sucker rod string.

A specific, preferred embodiment of the invention comprises a pair of horizontally spaced, generally U-shaped members or brackets each having an elongated bight portion and a pair of relatively short legs at each end of the bight portions, with the legs secured at their ends to the side faces of the horse head. The legs: extend outwardly from the horse head past the arcuate quadrant surface thereof so that the two U-shaped brackets cooperate in forming a channel limiting movement of the dual cables of the bridle to their intended area of movement on the arcuate quadrant surface. The specific embodiment of the invention preferably further includes, in addition to the horizontally spaced, U-shaped brackets, a plurality of braces each extending from a point of securement at one end thereof to the side surfaces of the horse head, to a point of securement at the other end to the bight portion of the brackets so as to reinforce and impart additional This embodiment of the invention, in addition to its described function as a bridle guard, provides ladders mounted on the horse head and useful in climbing to the top of the horse head to detach or disconnect it from the walking beam in maintenance operations.

From the foregoing description, it will have become apparent that it is a major object of the present invention to provide a bridle guard for use on the horse head portion of a sucker rod pumping unit so as to prevent damage to the sucker rod and stuffing box in the event of the occurrence of parting or fracturing of the sucker rod string at a point below the polished rod.

An additional object of the invention is to provide an inexpensive, yet mechanically rugged bridle guard which functions to prevent movement of the cables included in the bridle of a sucker rod pumping unit from their intended operating position in contact with the arcuate quadrant surface of the horse head in the event of the development of slack in such cables.

A further object of the invention is to provide a simple, easily installed bridle guard for use in a sucker rod pumping unit to assure proper location of the bridle cables during all phases of operation of the unit, which bridle guard is characterized in having a long and trouble-free operating life.

In addition to the foregoing described objects and advantages, additional objects will become apparent as the following detailed description of the invention is read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which illustrate the invention.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a conventional sucker rod unit with the present invention installed thereon.

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of the outer end portion of the walking beam illustrating the manner in which one embodiment of the bridle guard of the present invention is secured to the horse head of the pumping unit.

FIGURE 3 is an elevation view of the horse head of the pumping unit as it appears when viewed from a point ahead of, and horizontally spaced from, the end of the walking beam which carries the horse head.

FIGURE 4 is a plan view of the end of the walking beam and the horse head carried thereby, and illustrating a different embodiment of the bridle guard of this invention attached to the horse head.

FIGURE 5 is a view in elevation similar to FIGURE 3 and further illustrating the modified embodiment of the invention depicted in FIGURE 4.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, and particularly, to FIGURE 1, the conventional sucker rod pump unit there illustrated includes a sucker rod string enclosed in the usual well tubing 12, and including at its upper end, a polished rod 14 which extends through a st-ufiing box 16. The upper end portion 18 of the polished rod 14 is connected to a bridle designated generally by reference character 20 through a carrier bar 22 and a polished rod clamp 24. The bridle 20 includes a pair of flexible cables 26 which are connected at their lower ends to the carrier bar 22 and at their upper ends to the upper portion or top 28 of a conventional horse head 30 of the type used in sucker rod pumping units. The horse head 30 is connected to one end of a walking beam 22 which is pivotally mounted on top of a samson post 34. The walking beam 32 is driven in its oscillating pumping motion by a pitrnan 36 which in turn is driven by a crank arm 38 connected through a gear reducer 40 to a prime mover 42.

In accordance with the present invention, a bridle guard designated generally by reference character 44 is provided on the horse head 30 and includes, in a preferred embodiment of the invention, a pair of bridle guide brackets B which each comprise a generally U-shaped member 46 and a plurality of transverse braces 48. The U-shaped members 46 include elongated bight portions 46a and a pair of generally parallel leg portions 46b which are welded or otherwise suitably secured at their free ends to a side face 54) of the horse head 30. The bridle guide brackets B are secured to the opposite side faces of the horse head 30 and are therefore spaced horizontally l from each other so as to define a channel of'the type best illustrated in FIGURES 2 and 3.

Described in another way, each of the leg portions 46b of each of the U-shaped members 46 in each bridle guide bracket B is secured to the respective side face 50 at a joint relatively close to the intersection of the side face with the arcuate quadrant surface 52 of the horse head, and from their points of securement to the respective side faces, the legs 46b extend forwardly and outwardly at an angle with respect to the side faces so as to form the generally V-shaped channel best illustrated in FIG- URE 2. The U-shaped members 46 in each of the bridle guide brackets B is preferably positioned relatively near to the lower end of the horse head 30 so that the cables 26 of the bridle 20 will move into and be confined by the thus defined channel during the latter portion of the upstroke of the walking beam. It is at this period in the operation of the walking beam 32 when slack is most likely to be developed in the cables in the event the sucker rod string becomes parted.

The transverse braces 48 which are provided are secured at one of their ends to the respective side faces 50 of the horse head 30 and at their other ends to the bight portion 46a of the U-shaped members 46 included in each of the bridle guide brackets B. The transverse braces 48 function to lend mechanical strength to the bridle guard. It should further be pointed out that, by making the elongated bight portions 46a of the U-shaped members 46 substantially longer than is illustrated in FIGURES 1 and 3 so that the bridle guide brackets B extend further up the vertical dimension of the horse head 30, the bridle guide brackets can also be used as ladders to permit maintenance personnel to more easily have access to the elements used to secure the horse head to the walking beam 32 when it is desirable to remove the horse head therefrom. This has previously been a difficult and dangerous task on large pumping units, and the dual function of the preferred embodiment of the bridle guard 44 of this invention thus greatly enhances its value.

A convenient method of constructing the bridle guide brackets B in the form illustrated in FIGURES 1 through 3 is to form the U-shaped members 46 from a relatively long length of junk sucker rod, and also to construct the transverse braces 48 from junk sucker rod.

Operation In order to better understand the operation of the bridle guard 44 of the invention, it is believed that it will be helpful to initially briefly describe the problem which is solved by the invention by referring to FIGURE 1 of the drawings. If the sucker rod string 10 parts on the upstroke of the pump, as is most frequently the time' of the occurrence of such arting, the momentum of the upward movement of the string as the horse head 30 continues to move upwardly will result in the development of slack in the cables 26 at the termination of the upstroke. The occurrence of such slack then permits the cables to move loosely on the arcuate quadrant surface 52 of the horse head 30 and an opportunity exists for the cables to slip off of this surface and pass backwardly along the sides 50 of the horse head toward the samson post 34. At the same time, upon cessation of the upward stroke, the rod string pulls the polished rod 14 downwardly through the stufiing box 16 and applies tension to the cables 26. In passing from the arcuate quadrant surface 52 along the sides 50 of the horse head 30, however, the cables 26 become misaligned with the vertically extending axis of the polished rod 14 and exert a bending moment on the polished rod as it is pulled downwardly through the stuffing box 16. The polished rod 14 thus will become bent and cannot pass smoothly through the stuffing box 16, with the result that both the stufiing box and the polished rod are permanently damaged.

As a result of the incorporation of the bridle guard 44 of the present invention in the sucker rod pumping unit, the cables 26 are retained in a channel defined by the bridle guide brackets B and cannot move off of the arcuate quadrant surface 52 of the horse head. There is thus no possibility of the cables 26 becoming misaligned with the vertical axis of the polished rod 14, and no bending of the polished rod 14 can occur despite the development of slack in the cables on the upstroke following parting of the rod string.

A modified embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIGURES 4 and 5. In this embodiment, the two bridle guide brackets B are replaced by a loop or semi-annular member 60 which is secured to the horse head 30 in the manner illustrated in FIGURES 4 and 5. At least two points of securement of the generally annular member 60 are provided, with such points lying on opposite sides of the vertical plane containing the central, longitudinal axis of the arcuate quadrant surface 52 of the horse head 30. The portions 62 of the annular member 60 which are secured to the horse head in the described locations may be referred to as connected or secured portions, and in yet another embodiment of the invention not illustrated herein, the loop forming the guard may assume the form of a complete endless ring which is merely secured along one side thereof to the arcaute quadrant surface 52 of the horse head; preferably in a small recess formed in this surface to permit the cables 26 to run freely thereover.

The manner in which the loop-type bridle guard functions to prevent damaging of the polished rod 14 and stuffing box 16 is substantially identical to that described in referring to the embodiment illustrated in FIGURES 1 through 3 in that the loop 60 provides a closed channel for the cables 26 and prevents them from sliding oil the arcuate quadrant surface 52 and along the sides 50 of the horse head 30. In some instances, it may be desirable to provide a plurality of the loops 60 secured to the horse head in vertically spaced relation therealong.

From the foregoing description of the invention, it will have become apparent that the present invention provides a very useful, mechanically dependable, yet inexpensively constructed bridle guide which serves to confine the cables of a sucker rod pumping unit bridle to the path of movement in which they are intended to move during normal, trouble-free operation. The bridle guard can assume several dilferent or alternative forms and may be made of a number of materials of construction. A limited number of such embodiments have been illustrated herein, and have been described in considerable detail in order to provide an example of the manner in which the principles of the invention can be effectively practiced. All modifications and innovations which are made in the described structure without departure from 6 the principles outlined herein are therefore intended to be circumscribed by the spirit and scope of the invention except as the same may be necessarily limited by the appended claims or reasonable equivalents thereof.

I claim:

1. The combination of:

a horse head having an arcuate quadrant surface, said quadrant surface having a central, longitudinal axis lying in a vertical plane;

a bridle extending over said surface; and

a pair of horizontally spaced bridle guide brackets mounted on said horse head on opposite sides of said arcuate surf-aces, each of which comprises:

a generally U-shaped member having a bight portion and a pair of legs extending from said bight portion and secured to the horse head at a point horizontally spaced from the vertical plane occupied by the central, longitudinal axis of the arcuate quadrant surface of the horse head and extending at an angle with said surfaces in a direction away from said horse head, the legs of each of said generally U-shaped members being secured to said horse head on the opposite side of said vertical plane from the legs of the other generally U-shaped member, said legs and bight portions of each of said U-shaped members forming a cable guiding portion whereby said guide brackets define therebetween a channel for confining said bridle and limiting the movement thereof to said arcuate quadrant surface.

2. A bridle guard as defined in claim 1 and further characterized to include a plurality of transverse braces extending from the bight portion of each of said U-shaped members in a direction substantially parallel to said legs and of substantially the same length as said legs to facilitate securement of said transverse braces to said horse head.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 747,563 12/1903 Mullen 74240 915,953 3/1909 Hall 74240 X 2,287,604 6/ 1942 Comstock 74-103 2,886,975 5/ 1959 Murray 74108 FOREIGN PATENTS 815,592 10/1951 Germany.

MILTON KAUFMAN, Primary Examiner. FRED C. MATTERN, Examiner. D. H. THIEL, Assistant Examiner. 

1. THE COMBINATION OF: A HORSE HEAD HAVING AN ARCUATE QUADRANT SURFACE, SAID QUADRANT SURFACE HAVING A CENTRAL, LONGITUDINAL AXIS LYING IN A VERTICAL PLANE; A BRIDLE EXTENDING OVER SAID SURFACE; AND A PAIR OF HORIZONTALLY SPACED BRIDLE GUIDE BRACKETS MOUNTED ON SAID HORSE HEAD ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID ARCUATE SURFACES, EACH OF WHICH COMPRISES; A GENERALLY U-SHAPED MEMBER HAVING A BIGHT PORTION AND A PAIR OF LEGS EXTENDING FROM SAID BIGHT PORTION AND SECURED TO THE HORSE HEAD AT A POINT HORIZONTALLY SPACED FROM THE VERTICAL PLANE OCCUPIED BY THE CENTRAL, LONGITUDINAL AXIS OF THE ARCUATE QUADRANT SURFACE OF THE HORSE HEAD AND EXTENDING AT AN ANGLE WITH SAID SURFACE IN A DIRECTION AWAY FROM SAID HORDE HEAD, THE LEGS OF EACH OF SAID GENERALLY U-SHAPED MEMBERS BEING SECURED TO SAID HORSE HEAD ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF SAID VERTICAL PLANE FROM THE LEGS OF THE OTHER GENERALY U-SHAPED MEMBER, SAID LEGS AND BRIGHT PORTIONS OF EACH OF SAID U-SHAPED MEMBERS FORMING A CABLE GUIDING PORTION WHEREBY SAID GUIDE BRACKETS DEGINE THEREBETWEEN A CHANNEL FOR CONFINING SAID BRIDLE AND LIMITING THE MOVEMENT THEREOF SAID ARCUATE QUADRANT SURFACE. 